Link bracelet



Dec. 30, 19x41- K. c. vALJGENSTEHM 2,267,968."

LINK BRACELET Filed OCT.. 5, 1941 gig' 8 ai Z5 Patented Dec. 30, 1941`UNITED sTATEsfPATENT OFFICE LINK BRACELET Karl C. Augenstein, Cranston,R. I., assgnor to y Edwin F. M. Speidel, Cranston, R. I.

Application October 3, 1941, Serial No. 413,477

5 Claims. (Cl. 59-79) This invention relates to extensible linkages ofthe self-retracting type, and pertains more particularly to braceletlinkages of the character described in my copending application, SerialNo. 386,864, filed April 4, 1941, which are particularly suitable foruse as wrist watch bracelets.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide an extensiblelinkage comprising tcp and bottom links so interconnected andspring-tensioned that the top links of the retracted bracelet aredisposed in two juxtaposed rows extending parallel to the axis of theclosed linkage, with the top links of one row offset or staggered withrespect to the top links of the other row. This arrangement not onlyaffords a bracelet of unique and attractive appearance, but ensures thatthe bottom links are covered and substantially con; cealed by theclose-tting, retracted top links, and permits the bracelet to beexpanded approximately one hundred per cent in length by extending thelinkage so that the top links travel in a path parallel to the axis ofthe straightened linkage and form a single row of longitudinally spacedtop links and intervening bottom links.

In my said copending application, I have disclosed a bracelet linkagecomprising a series of top and bottom links pivotally interconnected attheir ends and equipped with coil springs located in tubular pivots ofthe top links and having end portions extending longitudinally of theintermediate or bottom links, the coils and spring ends being soarranged that the top links of the retracted bracelet extend angularlywith respect to the axis of the linkage with their sides injuxtaposition and their ends projecting along the sides of the bracelet.

In that arrangement, protuberant stop members are formed on the sides ofthe bottom links to maintain` the links of the retracted bracelet inproper relative position, and both top and bottom links move in anangular direction when the linkage is extended; whereas, in the improvedbracelet herein described, the top and bottom links may be of the samesize and shape and no special stop members are needed, for the retrac-'l tive elect of the springs is limited by the mutual abutment of theopposed ends of the top links inA the respective rows above mentioned.It will become evident, however, that the top links of a linkage orbracelet constructed in accordance with the present invention may assumea variety of shapes diiering in contour from the bottom links, for thearrangement hereinafter described permits the utilization of many uniqueand pleasing designs which could not feasibly be emin Figs. 9 and 11.

ployed in a. linkage .constructed in accordance with my previousapplication.

Recommended embodiments of the present invention are shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved linkage showing the top links inretracted position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views showing the linkage partially extendedand fully extended, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective of one of the top link covers orshells;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the top links formed with atubular pivot at each end;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the bottom links showing the endopenings which receive complemental pivots;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the cover or shell for abottom link;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of one of the retract-v ing springs;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing a top link in inverted position andassembled with a bottom link and one spring;

Fig. 11 is 'an enlarged, fragmentary bottom view of the partiallyretracted linkage. with the shells of the bottom links removed; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top view of a retracted inkkage equipped with amodified form of top in In the form chosen for the purpose ofillustration in Figs. 1 to l1, the bracelet linkage comprises a seriesof top links 2l each provided with a cover or shell 22; a series ofbottom links 23, each also provided with a shell 24; and a plurality ofcoiled springs 25, each having end portions 26 and 2l, respectively,which are so disposed With respect to the link members as to cause thelinks to retract in the manner heretofore indicated and hereafter morefully explained.

Each top link 2l preferably consists of a flat plate formed withupstanding tubular members 28 which constitute pivots on which thebottom links are arranged to swing and which receive the coiled springs25; and each bottom link 23 preferably consists of a flat plate formedwith end openings 29 which receive the tubular pivots 28 at the end ofadjacent top links as best shown The shells 22 and 24 are cupshaped andare applied to the respective links by crimping over their margins asindicated at 30 and 3| respectively (Fig. 9). The ends of the pivots 28may also be peened over, as shown at 32 to serve as seats for interiorshoulders 33 of the bottom shells 24 and to prevent displacementl of thebottom links from the pivots.

In assembling the parts, the shells 22 are appliedvto the top links 2|;the perforated bottom links 23 are applied over the pivots 28 ofadjacent top links and the tops of the tubular pivots are rolled over;one of the coiled springs 25 is inserted in each pivot so that its shortend 26 engages the shell'22 of the top link (Fig. 10) the hooked end 21of the spring is then preferably inserted in the coil of the springlocated in the pivot at the opposite end of the bottom plate 23 so thatthe relative long arms 34 of the complemental springs of each set orpair extend toward each other over the intervening bottom link withwhich each set is associated (Fig. 11); and the bottom shells 24 arethen applied to the links 23 and secured in place to enclose the pivotends and springs and hold the hooked ends' 21 in operative position.

The spring coils are suitably tensioned to provide the desiredretractive effect, and the engagement of the hooked tips 2l in the coilsof the opposite springs of each complemental pair holds the end portionsof the springs together,

Vprevents relative displacement thereof and maintains the tensiondesired. It will be evident that other suitable means preferablyindependent of the bottom links 23 may be provided for holding the upperends of the respective spring coils 25 of each pair in mutual engagementor against relative displacement; and that, in some cases, the coils ofeach pair may be formed from a single length of Wire with an integralconnecting arm taking the place of the parallel arms 34.

It will also be observed that a complemental pair of springs isassociated with the pivots of each bottom link, although the spring endsdo not directly engage the link 23 which constitutes a free swingingspacing connector; and that the paired springs associated with adjacentbottom links are arranged to react in opposite directions with respectto each other. For example, as shown by the direction arrows in Fig. 11,the springs associated with the bottom links 23 are coiled to cause thatlink to swing in a counterclockwise direction; whereas, the springsassociated with the adjacent and intervening link 23a are so coiled thatthat link tends to swing in a clockwise direction.

Because of this novel relationship, the top links 2| which areexclusively reacted upon by the retracting springs, are caused to movein a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the linkage duringextension or retraction, and are formed in two juxtaposed rows with thetoplinks of one row oilset or staggered with respect to the links of theother row and with the links of each row in end to end engagement, whenthe linkage is retracted as shown in Fig. l. The bottom links swingangularly as above described, and are disposed crosswise of the linkage.covered and concealed by the top links, when the the links are closedtogether by automatic action of the retracting springs. When fullyextended, the

links form a single and substantially straight row, as indicated in Fig.3.

Although all the' links shown in Figs. l to 11 are of substantially thesame size and contour and present straight, parallel sides and curvedends, it will be understood that other shapes may be employed,especially for the top links of a wrist or Watch bracelet which lendstyle and visual attractiveness to the article when in use r on display.For example, in the optional form illustrated in Fig. 12, the covers 42of the toplinks are polygonal in contour and have pointed, angular edgeson one side, the angular sides of adjacent links pointing in oppositedirections, so that these sides are nested together when the linkage isretracted to form the top links in two parallel rows as above explained.In such optional form, the shells 44 of the bottom links may be shapedas in Fig. 7 or may have a dierent contour, as de-r sired.

It will also be understood that the exposed surface of the top links maybe decorated or ornamented to suit individual fancy, and that the designor structural details of the bracelet linkage herein described may bevaried to suit particular requirements or conditions without departingfrom the essence of this invention as defined in the following claims.Suitable connectors may, of course, be applied to the ends of thelinkage for attaching said ends together or to the bails of a wristwatch, as disclosed in my aforesaid copending application.

It will be observed that I have herein employed the terms top link andbottom link to designate the link members 2| and 23 whether or notcovered by the shells 22 and 24 respectively, according tothe preferredarrangement of the links at the top or bottom of the linkage orbracelet; and it will be understood that these terms are intended to beinterpreted as designating either the internal link members themselvesor the covered links as a Whole, as the context requires or admits, andthat a reversal of the upper and lower links would be considered as thefull equivalent of the combination defined in the following claims.

I claim:

. 1. An extensible self-retracting linkage, comprising a series of topandbottom links, means pivotally interconnecting the adjacent ends ofthe respective links so that the top links of the retracted linkage aredisposed in two juxtaposed rows parallel to the axis thereof with thetop links of one row offset with respect to the top links of the otherrow, and spring means associated with the 'pivotal connections andarranged to hold vthe retracted links in said relation'while permittingthe links to be extended into substantial alignment.

2. An extensible self-retracting linkage, comprising a series of top andbottom links, means pivotally interconnecting the adjacent ends of therespective links' so that the top links of the retracted linkage aredisposed in two juxtaposed rows parallel to the axis thereof with thetop links of one row offset with respect to the top links of the otherrow, and spring means associated with the pivotal connections andarranged to hold the retracted links in said relation while permittingthe links to be extended into substantial alignment, said spring meanscomprising a complemental pair of springs associated with the pivots ofeach bottom link, the respective springs of each such pair having endportions extending toward each other and engaging the opposite pivot,and the pair'ed springs associated with adjacent bottom links reactingin opposite directions upon the top links connected thereby, whereby onebottom link tends to swing ina clockwise direction and the next adjacentbottom links tend to swing in a counterclockwise direction, while' thetop links travel in a path substantially parallel to the axis of thelinkage during retraction or extension thereof.

3. An extensible self-retracting linkage, comprising a series of top andbottom links, each top link having tubular pivots at its ends and eachbottom link having openings at its ends receiving said pivots, andspring means housed in said tubular pivots and reacting on adjacent toplinks to move alternate top links in paths substantially parallel to theaxis of the linkage, so that the top links of the retracted linkage aredisposed in two juxtaposed rows with the top links of one row oiset withrespect to the top links of the other row and with the linksof each rowin end to end engagement, the bottom links constituting angularlyswinging connectors and said bottom links being disposed crosswise ofthe retracted linkage.

4. An extensible self-retracting linkage,` comprising a series of topand bottomvlinks, each top link having an integral upstanding pivot atits respective ends and each bottom link having openings at its endsrespectively receiving the pivots of adjacent top links, spring coilsasso. ciated with said pivots, one end of each coil engaging the toplink carrying the pivot with which it is associated and the opposite endof the coil extending over the intervening bottom link sothat the coilsare arranged in complementa] pairs, a pair being associated with thepivots of each bottom link and said opposite coil ends of each pairextending toward each other, and

- means independent of the bottom link for holding said ends againstrelative displacement whereby the springs react upon the top links` andtend to retract the linkage, the pair of springs associated with thepivots of one bottom link being coiled to react in a direction oppositeto those associated with the pivots of the next adjacent bottom links.

' 5. An extensible self-retracting linkage, comprising a series of topand bottom links, each top link having tubular pivots at its ends andeach bottom link having openings at its ends receiving the pivots ofadjacent top links, spring coils located in said pivots, one end of eachcoil engaging the top link carrying the pivot in which the coil islocated and the opposite end of each coil extending over the interveningbottom link so that the spring coils are arranged in complementa] pairs,a pair being associated with the pivots of each bottom link and thelatter coil ends of each pair extending toward each other, and means forholding said ends together whereby the springs react vupon the top linksand tend to retract the linkage, the pair of springs associated with thepivots of one bottom link being coiled to react in a direction oppositeto those of the next adjacent bottom links, so that alternate bottomlinks tend to swing in opposite directions relative to each other whenthe top links are actuated by the springs, thereby moving alternate toplinks in paths substantially parallel to the klongitudinal axis vof thelinkage and causing the top links of the retracted linkage to form intwo parallel juxtaposed rows with the top links of one row offset withrespect to the top links of the other row and with the links in each rowin end to end engagement.

KARL C. AUGENSTEIN.

